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Piling on the pressure

Wednesday 2 May 2012, 4:45PM

By Emirates Team New Zealand

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CAMPER enjoyes some fair weather sailing.
CAMPER enjoyes some fair weather sailing. Credit: Emirates Team New Zealand
Water on the deck on board CAMPER as it hits the trades.
Water on the deck on board CAMPER as it hits the trades. Credit: Emirates Team New Zealand

CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand is continuing to pile the pressure onto leg leader Puma with just over two nautical miles (nm) now separating the two boats after ten days of racing.

CAMPER along with Telefonica has been relentless in attacking Puma over the last 24 hours as the top three boats battled large cloud systems and light conditions in the Doldrums. The challenging conditions saw CAMPER gain about 30 nm in 24 hours.

However, in the last few hours the leading boats have eased out of the worst of the Doldrums and picked up steady trade wind conditions. These are forecast to continue for several days and should push the fleet at good speed towards the Caribbean where a frustrating final thousand miles awaits the teams.

CAMPER skipper Chris Nicholson says that it’s an incredibly tight race as the team exit the Doldrums.

“We have been locked in a three way battle to leave the Doldrums and enter the trades. Telefonica, ourselves and Puma are virtually lined up across 15 miles of ocean racing to get into the trades first and benefit from a small jump on the other two boats.

“We did some good work in the Doldrums and managed to put some miles on Telefonica and pull in Puma – there’s nothing in it now.

“It has been interesting as we spent most of the day within one mile of Telefonica with each boat probing the other with different modes of sailing. Both boats have shown strengths and weaknesses and are proving to be very close in these conditions

“Now we just need to carry on our good work into the trades and ensure that we maximise our boat speed and do what we can to get in front before the messy stuff toward the finish. This match race is going to continue for some time.”

CAMPER in the latest position report at 1400h 2 May NZT is in second place sailing at 17.2 knots in a 15 knot easterly.